After six weeks of being abandoned on Belize’s barrier reef, the 85-foot luxury yacht belonging to American national Albert Barscroft has been deemed lodged on the reef near Hunting Caye. Barscroft ran aground on November 30th after exiting Belizean territory waters.
While the Port Authorty is investigating the cause of the accident, evidence already suggests the incident occurred as a result of Barscroft’s negligence.
Because it has been abandoned and left in the waters for so long, it is beginning to fall apart. The tank is full with fuel, and therefore environmentalists have deemed the vessel to be a potential environmental danger. The Department of Environment is concerned the yacht is beginning to break apart.
According to the Department of Environment, Albert Barscroft claims to have paid someone $10,000 to remove the yacht, but the man wanted an additional $60,000 to remove it. Because of this outstanding issue, it is up to the Department of Environment to step in and remove the vessel to prevent enviromental damage to the reef.
Currently the Department of Environment is gathering funds and organizing the project, which will cost between $30,000 and $50,000 to have a ship pull it out of the reef. Barscroft will be responsible to the debt owed to the Department.
However, upon being detained by the Coast Guard after the yacht crashed into the barrier, Barscroft suffered a heart attack and was rushed to a hospital in Guatemala. The exact damage done to the reef is unknown until the vessel is removed.
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